Well, this one was an absolute BITCH! I must've re-edited and rewritten this one thirty times to get it right and get the flow going and most of all to make it make sense, since this is where we learn everything! Phew! Again thank you all SO much for being patient!

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot, and and all characters and events pertaining to real places and historical figures are purely fictionalized versions of themselves. Characters all belong to Takehashi and Koonami

Dedication: to my wonderful readers and reviewers for their phenomenal patience and understanding! I love you all!

Chapter XXII: Spite

For a whole minute, Yugi could speak, couldn't think, and couldn't breathe.

Neither did Timaeus. His mind scrambled for answers, or some other scenario that would possibly make sense of the situation. No ideas came.

The darker part of him raged with betrayal, shamed that he'd been deceived by a desert flower with pretty eyes. His logical mind reminded him of all the facts and to consider all outcomes. Another part of him, a smaller part with the loudest voice, remembered their senat games and evenings when they'd watch lotus bloom. He listened to all of them and with neutral conviction, turned to his paralyzed charge. In that brief moment where their eyes met, Timaeus immediately perceived from the horror on his face that they were equally aghast and offended as each other. His rage softened, his logic scolded him and the small piece could not have been louder in its pride. Yugi was in no way privy to this scheme.

"I see," Timaeus said flatly, and the coldness was like a whip across Yugi's side. Then his hand brushed Yugi's chest when he moved in front of him.

"What exactly did they say?" Timaeus' tone was flat. Oh Mut please no, did he—? Yugi risked a glance. Timaeus' face was chiseled granite and Yugi's hope died. Gone was the spunky courtier who challenged him with flirtations and senet games, and the man whose soft heart he'd seen in small glimpses. The Trierarch had returned. And he was not pleased.

"They claimed," said the King with an expression Yugi couldn't read and Timaeus knew well. "That their reasons are quite simple. They feared their brother would be an unjust ruler like his predecessor, believed he would claim authority over their father's House and cease Waset's profits for his own. Fears, they claimed, were confirmed when he usurped the throne of Amun with his only claim being he has the blood of Ramses' daughter."

It made sense, Yugi realized. His father had married into the 18th Dynasty when he was still Leader of Amun's hem-netjer. When he became Per-a'ah the hope was that the union would eventually unite the two lands through their children and keep peace between the two nations even though he ruled the desert independently from it.

"A claim," Dartz continued "They say with muted by the fact that he is not the only child of Ramses descendants."

His gaze fell on Yugi. A question formed on Yugi's lips then died in dreadful realization. He shook his head, silent in his horror.

"They claim Isetemkheb was also a daughter of Ramses XI and that you are his heir not only through a much loved wife of the previous king, but a strong and beloved priestess of Sekhmet whose cult also has ties to the Capitol. As such, they believe you are chosen by Divine Rite as well as lineage."

"That's not true," Yugi protested in a weak voice and shook his head, panicked. "Yes, I'm Per-ah Pinedjem's son and my mother's was a hem-netjer for Sekhmet but I'm his youngest child and by his second wife, not his Royal one. I have no ties to that throne. That destiny was never mine to inherit." He protested, but the denial was for himself. Pas had always been the oldest, always shared their father's dream of reuniting the Desert with the Delta. His marriage to his wife was meant to symbolize that unity and his children were the heirs to both houses. Pas knew that, he accept it, and Yugi had always longed for that day. "Pas was always meant to be King."

"Perhaps," was all Dartz said. His face did not change. "But she was still a daughter of Ramses XI. She was beloved by both her King and all of Kemet. You are still her son. You are still a descendent of the 18th dynasty. You may be the youngest son, but you are also the only one left to act as heir if your brother were to, in any form, is unable to." The words were cold and flat.

Yugi tried to argue but found he could not. Surely it wasn't true, he had so many siblings, and he couldn't be the only heir if Pas had no sons. He tried to categorize them all in his head: Pas was eldest, Mas and Djed were dead, Menkeperre was Divine Servant, Maatkare and Mut were Royal Wife and Divine Adoratrice. His other sisters, Henuttawy and Nuanally were Singers of Amun at Waset—and girls, he realized with dread. He'd never categorized his family before, but when Mas and Djed death left Menkeperre Divine Servant, there truly were only two candidates for the Son of Ra position.

"And," he added with a harsh undertone. "You are beloved by the Per-a'ah and his Royal Wife. So much that they believed he would never challenge you for the throne and surrender immediately since a war, if he won, would mean your execution."

At the word Yugi's heart stopped and he felt Timaeus grip on him tighten. His eyes dropped to floor, his face a mask of betrayal and shock.

"You would be their puppet and they would rule through you. Whether you were directly involved or not. You are part of their plot." Dartz face was neutral but his eyes were sympathetic. Somehow it made it all worse.

"I won't believe it." Yugi shot up at Mut's rage. The King's Royal Wife stormed in, anger etched into every curve of her lovely face. "I won't believe it until I hear it from their mouths, and even then I will not be folly to their lies!" She hissed in conviction.

"I agree," Timaeus said with a harsh, sarcastic laugh. "Is this their strategy then? They know they've been beaten so they've chosen a scapegoat?"

"They don't claim he's a scapegoat," said Hermos in a rough voice. "They claim he's a conspirator."

"The priests can claim whatever folly they wish it does not make it true," Timaeus said with biting force.

"No," Critias snapped and rose to his full intimidating height. "They claim he's their leader."

Timaeus did not flinch. "And we would be fools to believe such without evidence."

Critias eyes hardened. His gaze fell on Yugi who flinched under it. "Perhaps you'd feel differently if you were not infatuated with the accused."

This time Timaeus did flinch: his brows furrowed, his hands curled into fists, and his teeth clenched in an angry growl

"Enough." Dartz silenced with a cold snap. The knights obeyed, but not without reluctance. The King turned to the Per-a'ah, their gazes neutral masks of delicate uncertainty. "My friend," Dartz began. "May we speak in private?"

Pas considered the request. "I'm going as well," Yugi declared emerging from the shelter of Timaeus' cloak. Pas and Dartz blinked.

"With respect, Prince Ujalah," Dartz began, "Given the circumstances your presence may be a conflict of interest?"

"This is my life they tried to play with," Yugi demanded fiercely. "I have just as much right to know their plans as anyone else. You said so yourself, unwittingly or not, I am involved, and I want to know how much. I need to know."

Timaeus smiled. "Then I insist I accompany you." Yugi spun around and Dartz shot up. Even his fellow knights gasped when he stepped forward. "I am still your guardian. Your safety is my primary concern. Whatever they have to tell you, I will listen." His tone held no room for argument, and Yugi smiled.

"Then you must speak to me as well," Mut insisted, her lioness eyes hard and fierce. "I am the Queen of this land, and I am their sister. This fight is just as much mine as it is my husband's."

Pas looked at his wife, her eyes hard; his brother, desperate and finally Timaeus, whose hard eyes and chiseled frown and the way his hand never left Yugi's shoulder, spoke of his fierce protection. He turned to Dartz.

"I don't believe private conversations are possible, my friend," he said with a small frown. "What do you suspect?"

Dartz turned to his men, then the Queen and once more to the Per-a'ah. "I don't believe they ever had any intention of replacing you as ruler, nor did they intend to make your youngest sibling their puppet."

The Knights did nothing to contain their surprise. Mut's anger dropped. Yugi exhaled sharply, and leaned into Timaeus side. It was all he could do to keep from collapsing.

"Neither do I," Pas agreed, his face the same chiseled granite as Timaeus'. "My brother covets the freedom to rule, not the power to do so, he's ambitious but he's not reckless nor is he stupid. He knows history does not look kindly on a brother killing a brother. More so, whatever hatred he feels for me, he would never put Yugi's life in jeopardy."

"But he wants us to believe such?" Mut interrupted, skeptical. "Why claim that as their objective when they know well it constitutes high treason?"

"And it would've failed regardless since if not because of the King than because of their chosen's reluctance." Dartz said flatly. He acknowledged Yugi with a nod. "So why indeed?"

"I don't know." The Per-a'ah spun on his heels and thundered into the Great House. "But I intend to find out."

"Pas?" Mut called after him, but he didn't answer. Yugi regained his senses and burst after him, Timaeus not far behind. The King and Royal Wife hurried after them and the Knights followed.

"Pas?" Yugi called in a gentle, pleading voice. When he stopped, Yugi recognized the audience room. The doors opened with a loud boom like a small tremor. The thrones had been cleared away and replaced by comfortable chairs around the dais.

"Menk!" Pas' said in a roar of thunder.

Menkheperre sat like a spoiled cat on a simple wooden chain in the shadow of the throne with a relaxed smile. Maatkare occupied the pillow at his side. "Funny," he chuckled. "I did not think you still knew that name."

"Enough of your games!" Pas roared his words dangerously low and lost all diplomacy. "You were always many things Menk, but you were never cruel, never blinded by greed. You never cared for power or prestige, you never wanted father's throne, so why would you confess to such a lie, knowing the consequences. Why would you deliberately involve Yugi, when you know full well he would never do harm to any of us, not even to you and Maat. So why?"

Menkhperre's eyes narrowed. "I don't have to explain myself to you." He stood. "You may be Per-a'ah but I am the Divine Servant of Amun. I rule the Desert not you! I've controlled Waset long before you became King and I have done so my way, and now I always shall." He laughed triumphantly.

The rest of the company poured in behind him. Pas did not flinch in his brother's presence but Timaeus did not fail to notice the curled smile he gave Yugi. He recognized that smile. The same smile from the docks. The smile of a child who'd captured a wild animal he couldn't wait to show off like it was a caged pet.

"What have you done, Menk" Pas demanded with angry authority in his voice.

Menkheperre smiled. "Exactly what I said I would," he grinned. "I told you why, I won't share Waset with you. I have waited too long for this! Amen's death was supposed to be the crowning return of The Great One's Divine Servants to power; instead you sought to claim us for yourself without once consulting me! And worse you took Mut with you. And even far worse you tried to take Yugi with you too, knowing how precious he was to me, he and Mut. Can you truly blame me for wanting to take back what you stole from me? What was rightfully mine?

"They were never yours!" Path roared. "I didn't choose to be Per-a'ah: I was born it! It was not my dream to unite the temple and the capital. It was Pinedjam's dream, our father's dream! It was his hope that through us, his sons, our beloved country would have a true peace. Was that wrong of me? And regardless of your hatred to me, why the devil would you involve Yugi? He has nothing to do with us!"

Menkheperre smiled. "He has everything to do with us." His eyes fell sharply on Yugi and his smile twisted. "You could've had everything, Yugi," he shook his head with disappointment and obnoxious triumph. "I could've given you whatever you desired if you had only listened to me."

"I didn't want anything you promised me!" Yugi shot forward and snapped. "I never did!"

Before the words would've stung, but now neither Menkheperre nor Maatkare looked affected. Menkheperre just shook his head. His sigh was full of pity. "You should have. It all would've been so much simpler if you had."

"Enough," The per-a'ah shot forward, and positioned Yugi behind him and into Mut's arms and Timaeus' waiting cloak. "I'll ask you only once more, Menkheperre. What. Is. Your objective."

For a long moment, Menkheperre said nothing, but his gaze fixated on Yugi, who was determined not to flinch. He stared at him hard, and stoic under the intimidating stare, but he couldn't stop his shiver.

Menkheperre smiled. "Our original goal," he explained. "Was quite simple. Without Mut's influence, we hoped that if you were under the same restrictions as us, you would sympathize with our cause, and then petition our dear brother to declare a separation between the Temple and the State. A plan complicated by your stubborn refusal to listen. You always were a spoiled child, Yugi." He shook his head.

Yugi growled, but Mut, squeezed his shoulder. Her face copied Pas' neutral mask. Then Pas' brows knitted together and his glare sharpened. Menkheperre rolled his eyes but obeyed the silent command. "We were forced to change tactics."

"What tactics?" Pas demanded humorlessly and patiently.

This time it was Maat who spoke. "Since, Yugi stubbornly refused to see reason," her tone was scolding like a disappointed tutor. "We were forced to continue without him."

"Continue what!?" It was Mut who spoke, and her words were a harsh, low roar, doubly sharp.

"Well," Maatkare sang in a singsong voice. "Since he couldn't play the part of our ambassador, we decided to use his influence over you in a more" she paused dramatically then said "forward matter."

No one looked amused.

Yugi's fingers writhed at his sides and his shoulder shook with rage. Finally, he could bare it no long longer and shouted "What do you want? What did you want with me?"

Finally both Menkheperre and Maatkare spoke. "We wanted you to replace him as our Per-a'ah."

Everyone's faces dropped.

Yugi couldn't speak and when he finally did it his mind didn't register the words "You… What?"

"You could've been our king!" Menkheperre spat with heartbroken rejection. "Through you we would have influence over the capitol and never worry about being displaced again! And you threw it away!"

"But…Why?"Overcome by dizziness, Yugi swooned and was easily caught by Timaeus. "Why me?"

Why indeed. It was what Timaeus has wanted to know this entire conversation.

"You're mad!" Mut gasped in horror.

"Are we?" Maatkare cocked her head. "Because it makes perfect sense if you think about it." There was something in the way she said it that sent Timaeus' mind spinning with uncertainty.

"Why?"Pas demanded, his voice was all breath. "Why would you jeopardize everything our father worked so hard for? Why would you risk your life for a plot doomed to fail? So you truly despise me that much?"

"Oh don't be stupid, Pas," Menkheperre snorted like he was scolding a child. "Of course I don't. Despite our bitterness, you are still my brother and I am still yours. I would never wish to take from you what you've clearly waited your entire life for, nor would I want to leave the house, but I want to make it clear I don't expect to take orders from you, not in my own lands, and now I now that will never be the case."

What on earth did that mean? Timaeus wondered. Surely, they didn't still think they had the upper hand? Yet the High Priest reeked of bravado, and the priestess slouched like a lazy cat with all the cream. What was going on?

Pas forced himself to restrain his frustration and shook his head. King Dartz swooped forward like a shadow aged by experience and placed a steady hand on his young friend's shoulder. "Is it true then?" Dartz asked in a voice low and relaxed as thunder.

"What?" Maatkare asked, bored.

"That you planned on making Yugi your puppet." His words dropped through the silence like a stone in a well.

"No," Maatkare corrected sharply, he eyes directly on Yugi who flinched under it. "We planned on making you our king!"

Timaeus' eyes shot open, the last piece of the puzzle fell into place.

"I don't understand any of this, Menk. If you didn't want my throne then why? Why all this? Why Yugi?"

Menkheperre snorted and started to speak but Timaeus cut him off.

"Because he's the key to you," Timaeus said sharply with his head bowed. All eyes turned to him, and to his pleasure, even the priest and priestess looked surprised, though they hid it quickly. "This was never about overthrowing the Per-a'ah, simply replacing his authority in the desert with someone they approved of." Timaeus marched forward leaving Yugi in Mut's arms. "You never intended to overthrow your brother. You simply wanted to force him to relinquish control of Waset to you," He kneeled down to meet their eyes, a smile slit his face. "But you're a priest, and she's a priestess. Legally, you can't hold a position of true political power in title; it would simply be too much power for a single person." He spoke with jubilant sweetness. "But you could act as the power behind the throne, if your King were simple a figurehead, and since Yugi is the only remaining male heir of your bloodline, he would have to fill the role. Thus your victory would be thrice-fold: you'd have your power through Yugi, and you get to permanently separate him from your rivals for his affections, and you have the satisfaction of knowing they'd lost him to you. Your revenge would be complete."

Yugi was wrong. And so was his king. It was never about power. Or about love. Just a forsaken brother and sister brought together by mutually jealousy, hate and a love that was too selfish to be loved anything less but best.

Menkheperre looked shocked for a moment then his lips curved into a slit and he laughed bitterly. "Very clever, General. Very clever."

"So that was your plan?" Pas asked, his voice hallow. "To use my love for our youngest brother against me?" His fists shook at his side. Out of the corner of his eye, Timaeus saw Mut's grip on her charge tighten. Yugi hadn't stopped shaking.

"A brilliant plan," Dartz complimented bitterly. "Despite its cruelty. If they had declared war with Yugi as their leader, as a King you could've easily fought and won, but as a man and a brother, you would've had no choice but to surrender." The hand on his friend's shoulder squeezed sympathetically. "If you had fought—and won—you would've been forced to either exile or execute your most beloved sibling. Either way their victory would've been assured."

Execute? Yugi's hands flew desperately to his neck. He knew well the punishment for high treason: beheading. It would've destroyed Pas and Mut to have made that decision, let alone watch it.

"It would've succeeded without your interference," Pas said. He turned to his friend and smiled. "Thank you my friend."

"Haha!" Maatakare's laugh pierced the silence like an arrow at a coronation ceremony. "You think so fondly of your sea rats!" She spat. "Do you have any idea what he did while you were twiddling your thumbs, waiting? What he's stolen?" Her eyes fixated on Timaeus with the purest hate. "What's he's done since the moment you let him into Djanet?" Her voice was an enraged bark and a laugh of heartbroken pain, tears pricked her wild eyes and her hair flew about her wildly like thousands of living snakes, and her face was all madness. Even during her worst rages, Yugi had never seen her so frightening.

"What are you talking about?" He hadn't realized he spoke until after the words left his mouth.

Maatkare's expression dropped to enraged shock. "You…"her words were punctured with rage, then she exploded. "Don't you dare play coy with me!" She lunged for him and Yugi screamed, Mut pulled him into her and shielded him with her back, and Timaeus jumped between them but Pas and Menkheperre, caught her just before she collapsed. She was silent for a moment, staring at Timaeus, as he knelt to Yugi and the Royal Wife, holding him, and Yugi allowed him to. "How dare you!" She snapped. "How dare you act like you belong there!" She raged in wild whispers then shouted again. "You stole him from us!" She pointed an accusing finger at Timaeus who blinked.

"And you!" She glared at Yugi, and dragged the word through clenched teeth. "You…"

"I what?" Yugi demanded, tired of being afraid. Gently, he shoved his protectors arms away and stood. "What did I ever do to you?" The demand was fierce and harsh.

"You chose him," Menkheperre's words dropped as Maatkare collapsed into a heap in his arms.

"We waited for you to finish grieving for your mother, and we waited for you to adapt to life in Waset, and we waited for you to be done with your little rebellion…only for you to give your heart to a mixed breed pirate." He spat each word dangerously low. His infuriated glare fixated on Timaeus who blinked once.

Yugi was about to ask what he meant then he stopped torn between uncertainly and realization.

"Pas and Mut we understood, they'd always held your heart, but he…" Maat was shaking and snarling.

That day just before they arrived in Djanet, he remembered now: remembered Menkheperre accusing him of being Timaeus' whore, Maatkare calling him traitor. She hadn't meant their cause. She'd meant when he'd kissed Timaeus in front of them and Timaeus called him betrothed.

"We worked for your love, fought for it, did all within out power to keep it. We deserved it!" She was screaming now, but Menkheperre held her tight as she tore at her dress and hair. "And then he comes and you just gave it to him! Without him even trying!?"

Timaeus blinked twice, then his eyes narrowed and he pinched the bridge of his nose. "That was why you did all this?" He said in a bored sigh that showed no sympathy. "Because you think he fancies me?" He rolled his eyes then looked t Yugi.

Yugi's eyes were hard but his smile was sharp. "How childish."

"How dare you!" Maatkare screamed and shook but Menkhperre's grip did not falter.

"Easy sister," Menkhperre's voice was all venom. "It no longer matters, remember?"

Maatkare's fury transformed into a smile. "That's right, it doesn't."

Something in her smile made Yugi shiver and Timaeus' reflexes doubly sharp.

"I have heard enough!" Pas thrust forward, his voice hard and commanding. "You will both be returned to Waset for service. Hence forth, as I have no desire to spill my own family's blood, you will be confined to the House of Amun. You are fortunate this knowledge is not public or the people would cry for your heads." There was no mercy in his voice.

The hem-netjer only smiled. "I expected no less," Menkheperre said. "Fortunate," he whispered to his sister, but made no effort to conceal it. "We won't be going alone."

Timaeus' ears perked up. "Per-a'ah?" he interrupted, and waited until Pas acknowledged him before he spoke again. "The consequences for rebellion in your county? What are they?"

It was not an odd question to ask and Yugi knew the answer, but it made him feel uneasy.

After a long moment, Pas answered "Depending on the severity of the crime and the roles of those involved, a public execution or exile."

"Roles?" Timaeus questioned.

Pas elaborated. "Supporters, for example, would have the choice between imprisonments or hard labor. The leaders, however, would either face public execution or exile if they surrendered."

"And…of course," Menkheperre chimed in, his deadly gaze, cold with triumph, locking on Yugi. "The same fate would no doubt befall the one who sought to replace the King as well, especially if the knowledge was well known."

The group spun to him. Menkheperre's only smirked and Maatkare crackled victoriously. " Oh yes! What would the people think if they found their Pharaoh pardoned the boy who planned to overthrow him simply because he's his brother?"

The words dropped like a stone in a well. The silence that followed was more dreadful than a scream. The final piece fell into place and Yugi shivered in shocked horror. Dreadfully, he remembered the strange events that morning, but only now did he remember similar sneers before, similar hard looks and scowls of hate the day before and how the episodes grew more and more frequent with each passing tenday.

Yugi stumbled back and fell into Timaeus' cloak and was easily caught by his arms. Mut had frozen her face a mask of shock. Pas had not moved. The hem-netjer smiled, and King Dartz hadn't stopped glaring.

"You were right, Timaeus," Dartz, who'd been unusually quiet, whispered. His voice was dangerous and low. "They did have spies in this city."

Like I said hardest thing about this one was the set up: revealing the priests' plots without actually saying it and STILL making them come off as somewhat three-dimensional and not just flat villains out for power and all that nonsense. They had a reason, granted not a right one, but still. Phew!

Next chapter will be that first major plottwist i mentioned.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS:

I asked before but never really got any response, i was thinking of changing my update patten to Wednesday night that way everyone can read the chap Thursday instead of Friday, since I know a lot of people are busy with school and what not. I volunteer Wednesdays and usually have Thursdays free from work, so would that be better? I ask cause i notice a lot of reviewers don't read the updated chap until a week later the day before the new chap is posted so I was curious?

Next Time: The plot has been revealed. Yugi's fate is no longer his own, and when a decision is made, Timaeus drops a bomb that will set literally EVERYTHING out of whack.